Qudelix-5K Bluetooth DAC & Headphone Amp

[Digital Delay]

Thanks to ASR, I discovered this neat device, and have been using it for a week now pairing with my iPhone 12 Pro and Hifiman Sundara.

Using the balanced high 4V output / my Tidal volume on the phone at max / using USB connection / PEQ at -5.5dB, I find that I need to set the Qudelix volume close to max (near 0dB or higher) to get to a nice “rocking loud” level.

Anyone here on similar setup experiencing the same? I do wish for more volume headroom.

 

[raykkho]

This is truly a great device, I don't even bother to use my DAP on the road anymore. I haven't tried full size can but using BT LDAC connection, Android, phone on max volume, and my JH Audio JH13 Pro, I use around half of the available volume on the 5K, already quite loud for me. Perhaps your Sundara are very hungry for power. Need to try it with my Emphyrean.

 

[Digital Delay]

This is truly a great device, I don't even bother to use my DAP on the road anymore. I haven't tried full size can but using BT LDAC connection, Android, phone on max volume, and my JH Audio JH13 Pro, I use around half of the available volume on the 5K, already quite loud for me. Perhaps your Sundara are very hungry for power. Need to try it with my Emphyrean.

Would be interesting to know how it pairs with the Emphyrean

 

[DanTheMan]

Are you adding 5 dB of bass boost then?

 

[raykkho]

Are you adding 5 dB of bass boost then?

Not me.

 

[Digital Delay]

Are you adding 5 dB of bass boost then?

According to Oratory1990 PEQ, I have dialed in a 5.5dB gain at 105Hz (low shelf filter).

 

[Jimbob54]

Thanks to ASR, I discovered this neat device, and have been using it for a week now pairing with my iPhone 12 Pro and Hifiman Sundara.

Using the balanced high 4V output / my Tidal volume on the phone at max / using USB connection / PEQ at -5.5dB, I find that I need to set the Qudelix volume close to max (near 0dB or higher) to get to a nice “rocking loud” level.

Anyone here on similar setup experiencing the same? I do wish for more volume headroom.

The way the 5k high gain works is interesting if you read the manual. If you are set to "low" gain or whatever it is called, the 5k own volume slider tops out at 0dB. If you engage "high" you can go up to +6dB. 0dB in either setting is exactly the same output level (as you would expect) so to "use" high gain, you have to go above 0, but at the expense of higher noise etc. Whether thats a worthy trade off is up to you and your ears. So basically, in high gain you have 6dB more headroom than you are using

 

[DanTheMan]

If you haven't done what Jimbob suggests, you'll have to relax on that bass boost.

 

[Digital Delay]

If you haven't done what Jimbob suggests, you'll have to relax on that bass boost.

Thanks. Since I’m almost maxed out on phone volume and 5k gain, will try reducing my bass boost by -1 dB to get 1 dB extra headroom.

 

[Digital Delay]

The way the 5k high gain works is interesting if you read the manual. If you are set to "low" gain or whatever it is called, the 5k own volume slider tops out at 0dB. If you engage "high" you can go up to +6dB. 0dB in either setting is exactly the same output level (as you would expect) so to "use" high gain, you have to go above 0, but at the expense of higher noise etc. Whether thats a worthy trade off is up to you and your ears. So basically, in high gain you have 6dB more headroom than you are using

I’m already on high gain

 

[Jimbob54]

I’m already on high gain

On high gain the volume goes up to plus 6 dB. You said you were running at 0db. You're not using the headroom if that's the case.

 

[Lunafag]

Thanks to ASR, I discovered this neat device, and have been using it for a week now pairing with my iPhone 12 Pro and Hifiman Sundara.

Using the balanced high 4V output / my Tidal volume on the phone at max / using USB connection / PEQ at -5.5dB, I find that I need to set the Qudelix volume close to max (near 0dB or higher) to get to a nice “rocking loud” level.

Anyone here on similar setup experiencing the same? I do wish for more volume headroom.

It's powerful for a portable amp but it's no magic. I often go like this with LCD-2, balanced, -8dB from EQ.

 

[Digital Delay]

On high gain the volume goes up to plus 6 dB. You said you were running at 0db. You're not using the headroom if that's the case.

I wrote 0 dB or higher... (normally around +2 dB
I guess my EQ -5.5 dB has offset much of the high gain extra headroom. Hope I’m making sense.

 

[Digital Delay]

It's powerful for a portable amp but it's no magic. I often go like this with LCD-2, balanced, -8dB from EQ.

Pretty much maxed out as well!

 

[Jimbob54]

I wrote 0 dB or higher... (normally around +2 dB
I guess my EQ -5.5 dB has offset much of the high gain extra headroom. Hope I’m making sense.

It does, but the last few dB on the "dial" are the most obvious jumps in loudness. So you probably wont notice a couple of dB move from -60 dB to -58 dB but you will sure notice -6 to -4 and even more so -2 to 0. Go from +2 to +6 (briefly) on a "loud" track and you'll see what I mean. And yes, the EQ is eating the eating the headroom. temporarily disable the eq when at , say -10 dB and youll see.

 

[Brianc]

Reposting a question here in the appropriate thread. If used with an Atom amp, could you connect the 3.5mm output to the Atoms 3.5mm aux input or to the line level RCA inputs?

 

[matt3421]

yes

 

[mSpot]

If used with an Atom amp, could you connect the 3.5mm output to the Atoms 3.5mm aux input or to the line level RCA inputs?

It's very likely that the two inputs are electrically connected together (you can verify with a tester), and it wouldn't matter which one you use.

 

[Atanasi]

It's very likely that the two inputs are electrically connected together (you can verify with a tester), and it wouldn't matter which one you use.

They are independent inputs, there is a switching button in the front.

 

[mSpot]

They are independent inputs, there is a switching button in the front.

An inline switch does make it harder to check whether they are electrically equivalent. You can open up the case and look at how the connectors and switch are connected. I still think it is likely they are equivalent and won't make any difference.